Improvement in leg-and-foot rests



Elf-ma l fimfimi,

No. 120,176. Patented Oct. 24,1871;

AM PHara-umba/mPHm ca My [assamvri- PROCESS.)

NITED STATEs ELIJAH WITHALL, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN LEG-AND-FOOT RESTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 120,176, dated October 24, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIJAH WITHALL, of Rochester in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Foot-and-Leg Rest, of which the following is a :pecitication:

My invention relates to a rest of novel con struction for the support of the feet and legs when sitting or reclining in a chair.

In the drawing, Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of my invention. Fig. 3 is a similar View, showing the device folded up. Fig. 4 is a section at the dotted line as, Fig. 3.

My foot-rest is mainly composed of the stand ard A, to which is attached the foot-and-leg support or shelf B, at nearly a right angle, as shown in Fig. l. Brackets G O are also secured to the standard under the shelf B, which assist in sustainin g the weight imposed upon the latter. The extremity of the standard A rests upon the floor, and it is of sufficient width to prevent the device from tipping over laterally when in use.

In using the rest the end of the shelf B is placed at a suitable distance from the chair in which the person is sitting, when, by putting the feet on the shelf and tipping backward in the chair, the rear posts of the latter and the bottom of the standard become pivotary and supporting points for the occupant, upon which he may rock backward or forward or remain at rest, as he feels disposed. It is also well adapted for use with a rocking-chair, the foot-rest oscillating with the motion of the chair.

I thus provide a very easy support for the feet and legs, which is not only agreeable and comfortable to any person of sedentary habits, but

is especially adapted to the use of-the sick or those suffering from broken or fractured limbs.

For the purpose of reducing the size of the rest when not in use the shelf B and brackets G O are hinged to the upright A, and are thus allowed to fold over against the latter, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Strips c are attached to the upright, to which the shelf and one bracket, 0, are hinged, while the hinges of the otherbracket C are fastened directly to the standard. Thus the latter may be folded down against the standard, the other turned over upon that, and

the shelf B over'the whole, as indicated in Figs.

3 and 4.

This foot-rest may be'constructed in any desirable fancy shape, making it an ornamental 7 object in the dwelling, and it will probably be found preferable in most cases to upholster the shelf B, which adds materially to the comfort of the user. The standard A may be simply a skeleton or bow steamed and bent, and the ends secured by an ordinary rung near-the bottom, and the shelf B may be formed in the same manner and filled in with cane-work or otherwise upholstered. This would make the rest very light and cheap in construction.

What I claim as my invention is- The foot-rest having the shelf B and its supports 0 and G hinged to the standard A, and arranged to fold together, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

ELIJAH WITHALL. 

